Line stretcher



Oct. 12, 1948. E. L. HOWE 2,451,389

LINE STRETCHER Filed July 24, 1946 a l V U 25 22 l 24 IL/ INVENTOR- W iEARL L.- HOWE l w BY 3 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE LINE STRETCHER Earl L. Howe, Dayton, Ohio Application July24, 1946, Serial No. 685,805 3 Claims. (Cl. 254-161) This inventionrelates to means for stretching lines and for retaining them in a tautcondition.

An object of the invention is to provide a simplified and improved formof line-stretching device which is adapted to be connected directly withthe line for stretching the same, and after stretching the line, ofretaining the same in a taut condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplifiedform of line-stretching device having an improved and simplifiedarrangement of a ratchet mechanism for retaining the device in selectedpositions after placing a line connected thereto in a taut condition.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a line-stretchingdevice that is adapted for use in stretching metal lines, such asfence-lines, and is also adapted for use in stretching an electricfence-line to maintain the same in a taut condition.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawingsand thefollowing description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective elevational view of the line-stretching deviceof this invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the linestretching deviceillustrated in Figure 1 and is taken in the direction of the arrow 2thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 ofFigure 2. 1

Figure 4 is an elevational view illustrating the application of theline-stretching device to the use of stretching an individualline.

Figure 5 is an elevational view illustrating the application of theline-stretching device for use in stretching an electric fence-line.

The line-stretching device of this invention consists of a body memberII! that is substantially U-shaped and has a base portion II and a pairof parallel arm portions I2 and I3. The arm portions I2 and I3 areprovided with axially aligned holes I4 and I5 respectively that receivea rod or tubular member I6. The arms I2 and I3 are also provided withsmall holes I1 and I8 respectively that are adapted to receive a wirefor attachin the body member III to a desired support. Also, a hole I9is provided in the base portion II through which a linewhich is to bestretched, passes.

The rod or tubular member I6 extends beyond each of the arms I2 and I3of the body member ID, and has holes 20 and 2I passing through theextending ends of the rod or tubular member I6. These holes 20 and 2Iare placed at right angles to one another and are adapted to receivea-suit-.

able tool for rotating the rod I6 within the body III.

The rod or tubular member I6 is also provided with a radially-drilledhole 22 that is adapted to receive the free end of a line to betightened.

A ratchet mechanism is provided for holding the rod or tubular member I6in selected posi tions The ratchet mechanism consists of a pair ofU-shaped wire members 23 and 24 that pass through radially disposedholes 25 and 26 in the member I6 adjacent the arm portions I2 and I3 ofthe body member Ill. The holes 25 and 26 are arranged at right angles toone another to thus dispose the U-shaped ratchet members 23 and 24 atright angles to one another. The ratchet members 23 and 24 are thusarranged so that for each degrees of rotation of the tubular member I6,one of the ratchet members may be positioned with the arm thereofdisposed over the arms l2 or I3 of the body member III, as for example,in the manner in which the ratchet member 23 is positioned over the armI2 as illustrated in Fi ure 2. Y

A line 30 to be stretched has the free end thereof passed through thehole I9 and extended through the hole 22 in the member I6. A suitabletool, such as the screwdriver 35, is inserted through one of the holes20 and 2I in the member I6 to rotate the member and thus wrap the linearound the member l6, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. The initialcomplete turn of the line 3|)v around the member I6 will prevent theline from releasing from the member I6. As the line 30 is drawn taut,either of the ratchet members 23 or 24 may be placed over the respectivearms I2 and I3 of the body III to retain the line in a taut condition.

In Figure 4 there is illustrated an application of the use of theline-stretcher of this invention wherein a wire line 40 is stretchedtaut between a support such as a building 4| and a post 42. The line 40extends from the hook 43 of the building 4| and passes through a hole 44drilled through the post 42. The end of the line 40 is then passedthrough the member I6 in the manner heretofore described and is drawntaut by T0- tation of the member I6. Either of the rachet members 23 or24 may engage the respective cooperating arms of the member I0 to holdthe line 40 in a taut condition.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated an application of the line-stretcherfor use in stretching an electric fence-line. In this application .ofthe device the electric fenceline .50 extends between the fenceposts and52, a suitable insulator 53 being provided at each end of the line 59. Awire loop 54 may have the free ends thereof passed through the holes I!and 18 in the arms ['2 and I3 and suitablyfastened.

The line-stretching device of this invention is placed in the electricfence-line 50 with one end of the fence-line 50 being secured to theloop 54 and theoppositeirec end of the line; 5il-ebeingi passed throughtherotating member" 16 :of the line-stretching device in the mannerheretofore described. Rotation of the member stretch and maintain theline 50 taut, and the line stretching device will notin any Way-interfere with the passage of electric current along,

the fence-line 50.

I5 will If desired, of course, the line-stretching d'ev i'ce-: could bepositioned between one of the insulators 53 and either fencepost, inwhich instance the line-stretching device would be out of the electric"While the device heretofore d iscl os'ed an-d de scribed constitutes apreferred form oftheein venti'on yet it will be understood "that thedevice is capable-of alteration Withoutdeparting-from thospiritof theinvention, and that all modificati'ons that'ial-l within the scope of;th'e-'app'ended claims are intended tobe included-herein; Having thusfully described myinvention, what I'iclaimi as newlan'd desire to secureby- Letters Patent is: i f lfAdevi'ce, for. stretching, lines thatcomprises; a body; member-having spaced" substantially par allelfidcs, arod-like member extending "between said'sjidesand j'ournaledtherein,-detentmembers extending' radi-ally through said rodlike memberarigularly disposed relative'to one another and having their ,endsberitto' engage at least one of member, said rod-like member-havi'ngmeans to receive the end offa lineforfastening thereto,

and further having mean s for engage ent'by a tool for rotating saidrod-like "member- 2. Aline-stretching device comprising a body memberhaving spaced substantiallyparallel sides, a rod -like member extendingbetween said sides and jonrnaled therein, said rod like memberlfiyingmeans for armaments a linethereto and iurther having means for:engagement by a tool for rotating; said; rodalike member f in said tbodymemberg and'fde'tentmeans for 'preventing rotation of'sa'idJOdE-liKememhe-i' consisting of a pluralityiof -U -fshaped';members ex tending radially through said rod-like memberdisposed angnlarly 1 relative to one another and freely rotatable insaidrod like member t o provide for extension of said 'uz -shapedjmembers over at: least one of said, sides. V

3. A l'ine stretching device comprising a body member having spacedffsubstantially parallel sides a rod-likemember extending between'saidsidesand 'journa'led therein, said rod like, memher having meansforattachment of a line thereto and further havingmeans for engagementby a tool for rotating said rod-like ,member in, said body member,detent' means for preventingrotationof said rod-flike member consistingof a plurality of .U -'shaped members extending radially through saidrod-like member disposed angularly relative to one, another. and freelyrotatable 'in fsaidroldlike member to provide for extension ,of said''Ll-shaped m flmbersover at least one of said sides, and an openingthroughisaidfbody member substantially radially'of said rod-like membermember having means for attachment of alin'e i 4 through which a linepasses for engagement with said rod-likemember.

4. A line-stretching device comprising abody member having spacedsubstantially parallel over the adjacent side, said, U-shaped membersbeing disposed angularly relative to one another toprovide for'alternateengagement thereof with their respective'co-operating sides. '5.Aline-stretching device comprising a substantially U-shaped body member,a rod-like membereXtend-ing through and journaled in the sidewallsemera- U' shaped' member, 1 said rod like member having means forattachment of a line thereto and furtherhavingme'ans for engagee mnt--;by'= a toolfor rotation of said rod-likje member-in said- U'-shapedmember-, and a plurality of "substantially -U-shaped deten-tmembers 4 .ex-

tending radiallythrough said rod-iike'member e and-freely rotatabletherei'n and-"disposed ang-ularly-re ati veto one another ad's'acer-itatleast.

one {of the-Walls of SaidZU-shaped member for alternate extension ofsaidu -shaped 1 ratchet members over-the said wall toprevent rotation 6. Aline stretehing' device comprising a :sub-

stantially'w shaped body -member, a 5 rodlike membei' extending throughand iio'urnaled in the sidewalls of {said 'U-shaped 'member, said rodlike membefihaving means for -'attachment of a line thereto and furtherhaving 111651115101 en gagementby a tool for 'rotationof said rod-likemember in-said U -shaped' member, and a- U shaped detent memberextending radially through said rod-like member adjacentseach of theside walls-of"said-' U-shaped 'member-:and freely rotatable thereinand-' dispose'd 'ang'ularly relative to' fo'ne aanoth'e'rforalternateengagement swith the'w'alls of said U-shaped memberthereadjacent;

7. A line-stretching device'compr-is-ing a substantially [i -shaped body-membe-r, a rod-like member extending throughand journal-ed inthc sidewallsofsaid U shaped member, said rod-like thereto and furtherhaving-means for engagement i by a =tool for rotation of said rod-likemember in-- said U-shaped'member; a U-sha-ped =detent memberextendingradiallythrough said rod-like member-adjacent eachof the-sidewalls of said U shaL'ied-member and freely rotatable there'in anddisposed angularly relative to one another ion-alternate engagementwiththe -walls of said fll shaped member thereadjacent, and an openingthroug'fith'e; base-portion of said-U -shaped member through which aline passes-for engagement to said rod-like memben 8., A.,lme stretchingdevicefcomprisingjaJsubE-a V sta t1ally,.U-'shaped body member,arodelike member extendingihrough andljournaled in the side wallsbfsaidiU-shaped mem'i ier, said redlike memberhaving means. ,forfattach'mentiof a line. hereto iand further havingfmeans for en'-ag'ement by a topl for-rotation of said rod-likememberrinlsaid'U.-shaped member; ,a U-shap,ed

detent' jmemb'efrj,, extending radially through said rod-like memberadjacent "each'of the side walls of said U-shaped member and freelyrotatable therein and disposed angularly relative to one another foralternate engagement with the walls of said Ushaped member thereadjacent, an opening through the base portion of said U-shaped memberthrough which a line passes for engagement to said rod-like member, andan opening through each of the sides of said U-shaped member closelyadjacent the ends thereof to receive means for attaching said U-shapedmember to an object.

EARL L. HOWE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofth Number Number is patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Owen Jan. 10, 1911 Anderson Jan. 21,1913 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Apr, 15, 1929

